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Caprese salad

Insalata Caprese
Although it is so simple it borders the obvious there is no way around Italian cooking without including a caprese salad.

As the name indicates the caprese salad recipe comes from the island of Capri, but to many Italians it is a national emblem like the flag with the symbolic colours of green for hope, white for faith and red for charity. This may explain why it is served as a starter in all Italian restaurants throughout the world. In winter it  can be a sorry sight with greenhouse tomatoes and tasteless fior di latte, but when the tomatoes are ripe, the basil is fresh and strong, and you can buy real mozzarella di bufala in the deli, there is nothing better.

Ingredients

300 g tomatoes
100 g mozzarella
Olive oil
Fresh basil

Preparation

Wash the tomatoes and cut them in slices or wedges.
Drain the mozzarella cheese and slice it up in regular bites.
Drizzle with olive oil and cover with showers of fresh basil.
Serve the caprese salad immediately

Alternatives to caprese salad

Puntarelle in anchovy sauce

Multicoloured tomato salad

Green beans with anchovies

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Caprese salad recipe

Does it get much better than fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, good olive oil and basil

17 replies
  1. Maria
    Maria says:
    July 7, 2013 at 5:21 pm

    Mette, this is an awesome dish – so hot here and the salad would be so very refreshing.

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      July 9, 2013 at 3:20 pm

      You’re right – cheese, tomatoes and basil go great with the heat.

      Reply
  2. Sophie
    Sophie says:
    July 14, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    Yum! And too funny. I’m eating a caprese salad as I’m reading this. Only with balsamico on it – and no basil. Can’t seem to manage to keep plants alive for longer than 5 minutes…

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      July 16, 2013 at 3:23 pm

      Tasty coincidence – and the ease of basil growing is one of the major differences between Italy and the Scandinavian countries.

      Reply
  3. azita
    azita says:
    July 22, 2013 at 3:09 pm

    a simple and perfect dish! (ps hi! found you via twitter and loving your blog)

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      July 23, 2013 at 5:35 pm

      That’s very kind. Thank you so much:)

      Reply
  4. Leigh
    Leigh says:
    July 26, 2013 at 2:48 am

    It is not summer if there is no caprese salad. This year I am traveling too much to grow basil at home so I have to cough up the money for the overpriced fresh stuff at the grocery store. Still – it’s a little bit of heaven.

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      July 27, 2013 at 10:30 am

      True – and the dried version is good for absolutely nothing in my opinion.

      Reply
  5. Marcia
    Marcia says:
    July 27, 2013 at 5:15 pm

    The red, green and white are so vivid, the salad looks so fresh and delicious, I could eat it right off the plate!

    I’ll definitely have to try this one, Mette.

    Reply
  6. Stefanie
    Stefanie says:
    July 29, 2013 at 11:35 am

    Great salad choice :) I can honestly say, that Caprese salad is a staple food of mine, summer, winter – any season!

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      July 29, 2013 at 5:58 pm

      I abstain in the winter when the mozzarella is watery and the basil and tomatoes are tasteless. That way it’s a miracle every time a new season starts.

      Reply
  7. Jeff Titelius
    Jeff Titelius says:
    July 31, 2013 at 5:53 pm

    One of my FAVORITE dishes especially when visiting Italy and only the freshest of ingredients are served! Such a delicious post!!

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      August 5, 2013 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks – I’m glad I could whet your appetite.

      Reply
  8. Muza-chan
    Muza-chan says:
    August 5, 2013 at 2:46 pm

    Yummy! Thank you for the recipe :)

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      August 6, 2013 at 6:15 pm

      You’re welcome.

      Reply
  9. Mike
    Mike says:
    August 6, 2013 at 3:40 pm

    Thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday! I had to pass over your last post with the snakes *shudder*…sorry! But, I moved on to your food posts and they look delicious! I think I will make this Caprese Salad. I’ve been on a salad kick lately along with the other foods I enjoy :)

    Reply
    • admin
      admin says:
      August 6, 2013 at 6:18 pm

      Sounds healthy.

      Reply

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